91视频

This month we look back at events of November 1990, when a “topping off” ceremony was held for the 1000 Broadway building project and Delta announced it would add an 85,000-square-foot air cargo facility at Portland International Airport.

Nov. 2, 1990

Workers’ comp rates to dip 12 percent in ’91

Oregon’s workers’ compensation premium rates will drop by more than 12 percent next year, saving employers an estimated $90 million annually.

Ted Kulongoski, director of the state Department of Insurance and Finance, said Thursday that a 12.2-percent rate reduction was filed this fall by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, which sets workers’ compensation rates for the state.

Under the new rate effective Jan. 1, Kulongoski said nearly all of the state’s 70,000 employers will get a break on workers’ compensation insurance “pure premium” rates – the basic rate for the cost of claims. Some savings probably will occur after employers pay insurance companies’ premium assessments, he said.

Overall, the 12.2-percent cut is an estimated average reduction of rates in three main statewide employer classifications, Kulongoski said. Manufacturers will get a 9.6-percent reduction, contractors will receive a 10.4-percent reduction and all others will get a 13.6-percent reduction.

Nov. 5, 1990

1000 Broadway building 鈥榯opped off’

A few years ago, Portland was buzzing with news of four Class-A office towers planned for the downtown core.

But so far, only one has gotten off the ground – Hillman Properties Northwest’s 1000 Broadway building, where a “topping off” ceremony Friday signified the unfinished 23-story structure has reached its full height.

Marcy Jacobs, project manager for Hillman Properties Northwest, said leasing activity is brisk.

With signed leases and other leases under negotiation, almost 30 percent of 1000 Broadway’s 240,000 square feet of office space is either spoken for or at least being pursued, Jacobs said.

Paine Webber and Grubb & Ellis Co. both are planning to take space – 19,000 square feet between the two, she added.

Act III Theaters likely will strengthen its stranglehold on Portland’s first-run, major studio release movie market by signing a letter of intent for a 25,000-square-foot lease for a four-screen theater complex.

Leasing activity is on target, and the complex should be 50-percent leased by next spring, she added.

Construction also is on schedule, with April 1991 still the target date to open the center, Jacobs said.

BOORA Architects is the project architect, Hoffman Construction Co. is the general contractor and Grubb & Ellis is the leasing agent. Security Pacific Bank provided financing.

What about the other three office towers planned for downtown?

Leavitt, Shay and Co. of Seattle dropped plans for a 23-story building at Southwest Ninth Avenue and Alder Street, citing other commitments and a crowded market.

Transpacific Development Co. has announced plans to build a 28-story building on the old Greyhound bus station site, but that project appears to have been delayed indefinitely because of a lack of tenant commitment. Some in the real estate community say it is dead.

The fourth project, to be built by Wright Runstad and Co. of Seattle on property owned by local parking magnate Doug Goodman, was supposed to begin construction about six months ago. Real estate sources say the planned 32-story building at Southwest Third Avenue and Morrison Street will likely be built; they just don’t know when.

Nov. 8, 1990

Measure 5 throws cloud over business community

The property tax limitation plan approved by Oregon voters Tuesday could be detrimental for the state’s businesses, depending on how skillfully and quickly governmental leaders deal with the revenue shortfall expected with implementation of Measure 5.

That was the consensus of economists, state officials and business advocates, who expressed uncertainty Wednesday over Oregon’s business climate now that the controversial property tax cutting measure has become reality.

Sources, many of them cautiously optimistic, said the next several months will be critical in determining how the issue will shake out. Many observers speculated that companies likely will face trade-offs in taxes and fees as local and state governments scramble to make up for lost revenue and to pay for schools.

Nov. 9, 1990

Delta plans $6.4 million air cargo facility at PDX

Delta Air Lines announced plans Thursday for a $6 million-plus air cargo facility at Portland International Airport, saying demand for its cargo services is outstripping its ability to handle the volume.

The 85,000-square-foot facility will be built on 10 acres east of the Sheraton Hotel along Northwest Airport Way. Delta will lease the land from the Port of Portland and estimates it will spend about $6.4 million to construct the facility.

David Zielke, Delta district marketing manager, said the airline hopes to finance the project through a Port of Portland tax-exempt bond sale, for which Delta will assume debt service responsibility.

Zielke also said discussions are under way with Hoffman Construction Co. of Portland. Hoffman was the contractor on Delta’s new terminal facility at Portland International Airport.

Dull Olson Weekes Architects also is negotiating with Delta to design the facility, Zielke said.

Construction is expected to start next February and finish in the fall.

Nov. 20, 1990

Laventhol & Horwath break up to spawn new Portland firm

The Northwest offices of one of the country’s largest accounting firms will operate under new and separate names, as Laventhol & Horwath heads for a full breakup.

Managing partners of Laventhol’s Portland and Seattle offices said Monday that branch offices across the country are accepting the ailing firm’s offer to let them go their own ways.

Stan Geffen, managing partner of Laventhol’s Portland’s office, said seven partners were organizing a professional corporation that would exist as a local, independent firm. He said he anticipates no interruption in client service and expects continued representation of most of the Portland branch’s clients, though some lost business and staff cutbacks are a given.

Local partners decided Monday to make the split, effective Nov. 26, Geffen said. No new name was chosen yet for the new Portland firm, previously considered the seventh- or eighth-largest accounting firm in the city.

Six partners will reorganize the Seattle and Bellevue, Wash., offices as Bader Martin Ross & Smith, said Alvin Martin, managing partner of those offices.

Nov. 23, 1990

Niketown is more than just a shoe store

If you think you’ve seen everything in the way of retail glitter, visit Nike Inc.’s sparkling new retail store in downtown Portland, where unique interior design and nifty gadgets seem to command as much attention as the company’s shoes and apparel.

The Beaverton-based company has gone to town with Niketown, a 20,000-square-foot outlet store that opened Wednesday at Southwest Fifth Avenue and Salmon Street.

The store, with a design as unique as a Michael Jordan slam dunk, is aimed first and foremost at showcasing Nike’s corporate culture and mission, company officials say.

With statues and statistics of superstar athletes such as the multi-talented Bo Jackson, the showy Andre Agassi and the high-flying Jordan, and 14 pavilions highlighting each product line, Nike believes it has created a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for the fashion-conscious consumer.

“91视频 Archives” is a collection of excerpts from past issues of the 91视频 that runs the third Tuesday of each month. Article excerpts are reprinted exactly as they appeared at the time of publication. Share your own memories of Portland’s built history by contacting Theresa McKinlay at [email protected].